Kunstler was aware that his actions and speeches were being closely monitored by the FBI. He often spoke out against FBI surveillance and infiltration, sometimes even addressing the informants directly.

Click on the images above to download a PDF of all the documents in this section. (7 pages)

FBI Memorandum on a Panel Discussion on the FBI Broadcast on November 29, 1962:"All four of the individuals were critical of the Bureau and were prone to accept unsubstantiated criticisms of the Bureau that their uncontrollable (ILLEGIBLE) was obvious throughout the program. Kunstler was the most poison-tongued of the group...'When you reach this stage, you get into the field where you are violating civil rights day in and out.'"

DETAILS - November 30, 1962:"By memorandum ... I advised you that the New York Office had tape-recorded a panel discussion critical of the FBI which was broadcast on WBAI-FM on the night of November 29th. My memorandum pointed out that the New York Office was forwarding the tapes of the panel discussion to the Bureau.<br/ .

The tapes of the panel discussion have been received. Since WBAI-FM has not made printed transcripts of this panel discussion (as it did in the case of the interview of former SA BLANK BLANK, the Crime Research Section is transcribing the tapes. In this connection, difficulties have been encountered because (1) in several instances two or more of the panel group endeavored to speak at the same time, and (2) the voices of the panelists are frequently indistinct, which, of course, is the fault of WBAI-FM and not the New York Office.”

Surveillance Report: Account of Speech at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October, 1973:

Kunstler: “They get $10 an hour we found during the Chicago trial. All these patriotic citizens who volunteered to aid the Federal Bureau of Investigation by going to public meetings and writing down choice phrases so that when they take the stand out of their mouths will come, ‘he said burn down the auditorium.'”

Click on the images above to download a PDF of all the documents in this section. (7 pages)

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Film Information

Filmmakers

Emily Kunstler

Sarah Kunstler

Quotes

While our father lived in front of news cameras, we found our place behind the lens. We hope our film communicates that the world we inherit is better because someone struggled for justice, and that those changes will survive only if we continue to fight.”

— Sarah Kunstler, Filmmaker

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Critical Acclaim

This is a wonderful, inspiring film.

— Howard Zinn

Terrific archival footage from a range of seminal civil rights events, as well as affecting narration written by Sarah Kunstler and spoken by Emily Kunstler (who also edited the film), round out this superior documentary.

— Gary Goldstein, The Los Angeles Times

A refresher course on the history of American left-wing politics in the 1960s and '70s.

— Stephen Holding, The New York Times

The documentary is expertly put together and never less than compelling. It's a labor of love that helps restore the reputation of a significant player on the American stage in the last half of the 20th century.

— Hollywood Reporter

The film's point is clear. And for those looking for a straight answer, it's this: The bravest lawyer isn't the one who takes on the clients that allow him to feel good about himself. It's the one who takes on the clients that give us nightmares.